A Perfect Average Day

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined."
-Henry David Thoreau

How do you define productivity?

Some people define it as “getting more things done in less time.”

I call that efficiency.

Productivity may include working more efficiently, but it also includes one other key element. Productivity is not just about doing more things in less time, but also about doing the RIGHT things to help you accomplish your goals and enjoy your life.

Last year I became a member of UnleashGratitude (Ug) and now I get these wonderful articles in my inbox, written by the founder, Grant Rawcliffe. I asked Grant for permission to share his most recent article with you. I hope you’ll carve out the time and follow the advice he shares in the following article, as it will help you to be more productive. 

When you do the exercise suggested below, it will help you get to the core of what’s most important to you. After all, as Stephen Covey once said, “What does it matter how much we do if what we’re doing isn’t what matters most.”

What's your Perfect Average Day look like?

by Grant Rawcliffe

Okay, so maybe it would be helpful to know what it is.

I heard about the Perfect Average Day from Frank Kern, an Internet Marketer and genuinely great guy but not someone whom I expected to glean such a life-enhancing concept from.

I don't know where he got it from.

Before I tell you what it is, let me tell you why figuring out your Perfect Average Day can make a huge difference in your life.

Firstly, it gets to the core of who you really are.

You see, most of us have two versions of ourselves. Our shell identity, what we are doing right now (Banker), and our core identity, what we really want to do (Rock Star).

Our core identity is trapped by our shell identity usually for two reasons. The first is that we often don't know what our core identity is and the second is circumstances (I have two kids and a mortgage so I can't become a Rock Star).

The Perfect Average Day exercise helps you to discover your core identity. I quickly discovered that my core is all about love, play and contribution.

Why is this important?

Well, imagine what is like having two versions of yourself that are opposing each other. They are constantly struggling against each other. You probably don't even know that's what you are doing. When you discover and align yourself with your core, life becomes a whole lot more effortless.

I am not saying that you should quit being a Banker to become a Rock Star, but just imagine if every communication you made came from your core. When I come from love, play and contribution I have a blast getting my kids to do what I want them to do. When I don't, it is like,..... well,..... definitely not a blast.

There is a whole lot more to it from a conscious/sub-conscious perspective that I won't go into right now. Let's just say that it resolves internal and external struggles.

Secondly, I have always struggled with creating vision boards. I know they work amazingly well and I know I should have one and I've tried a number of times to create one, but I really don't enjoy the process and I can never find the pictures I want. The whole experience goes against the premise of the Law of Attraction that it should FEEL GOOD.

For me, the Perfect Average Day exercise was so much more fulfilling. It was exciting. I got to let my creativity out. I got to create a much more detailed, vivid and comprehensive picture of my life than any vision board could ever express.

It was one of the most exciting visioning exercises I have ever done and it sure as heck FELT GOOD.

Thirdly, you naturally experience Gratitude for the vision of your future that you have created.

This is the key to accelerating the rate at which you attract your desired future and it is so easy to do because the entire future you created is consistent with your core. You'll be in tears of Gratitude when you create it and whenever you read it.

Okay, okay, so what is it?

Simple, just answer the following question:

"If there were no limitations or consequences, what would your Perfect Average Day look like?"

A few clarifications:

• Average - you could do it every day and not die or get sick of it.
• No limitations - due to your health, your finances, geography or due to other people.
• No consequences - you won't get into trouble for doing it.

Take a moment to close your eyes and ask yourself the question; "If there were no limitations or consequences, what would my Perfect Average Day look like?"

Now, just let your sub-conscious play around with it.

When the sparks of inspiration start to fly (and they will), write them down.

Creating your Perfect Average Day helps you to discover your core identity so you can live, communicate and experience life from who you really are.

It is like a Vision Board on steroids. You get to create your dream EXACTLY the way you want it in High Definition detail. It's like being the screenwriter, producer and director of the movie about your dream life.

And because you created it, you are totally and completely connected to it emotionally. It is effortless to feel the excitement and deep gratitude for this future that you have created for yourself. I had tears of gratitude when I created mine and I get tears whenever I read it.

Talk about accelerating the Law of Attraction!

Now, the thing to be careful of here is that you focus on experiences, not things.

None of us actually want things in life for the sake of the things themselves. What we really are seeking, what provides real satisfaction for the soul, are experiences. We want experiences that bring us joy.

Just like with vision boards, it isn't the picture of the house or car that you want to focus on, it is the experience of you living in it or driving it that is important.

So, as you create your day, focus on experiences.

The day you are creating is a full 24 hours and remember that whatever you write down you have to be willing to do every day for the rest of your life without dying or getting sick of it.

The objective is to really get into the details, include everything, even stuff that is seemingly mundane. The more you drill down the more clear you will become and the more profound this exercise will be.

Here are some questions to help you get started in your creation process:

• What time do you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night?

• What are your first thoughts and words when you wake up and last thoughts and words before you go to sleep?

• What is the first thing you do in the morning? The second? The third?

• What clothes will you wear?

• What do you eat for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner? Where do you eat? Who do you eat with?

• Do you have a partner or spouse? What are they like? What is your relationship like? What do you talk about?

• Do you have children? What are they like? What is your relationship with them like? What do you talk about?

• Where do you live? What does your house look like?

• What are your friends like? What do you do with them? What do you talk about?

• What career are you in? What time do you start work? What do you actually do at work? What are your customers/employees/peers like?

• What do others appreciate about you?

• What would you do for personal fulfillment? What life purpose would you strive for?

One last thing. When you take this exercise on, don't wait until you have the entire day planned out in your head. That's a really big task and a good reason to procrastinate.

I had no idea what my day would look like when I started writing and I was completely surprised what ended up on the page. It just flowed out of me with very little thought or effort.

Just start with writing down what time you wake up. Then write down what you do next. Then what you do next.

All you ever have to think about is what you do next.

Trust yourself and trust the process. You really do know what you want.

And guess what - you are allowed to go back and change it, it is your creation and it isn't carved in stone.

Now it's time to fan those sparks of inspiration into flames of desire.

Book some time for creating this vision. You don't have to do it all in one go. I spread it over a week and it was a fabulous way to bring joy and gratitude to each day.

Make it fun.

Happy creating.

Much love, Much play, Much contribution,
Grant Rawcliffe & the Ug Crew

Copyright Unleash Gratitude Inc., 2008 (shared with permission)

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Since I became an Ug Member, I get Ug cards which I give away when I want to express appreciation to someone. It always puts a smile on the recipient’s face when they receive an UG card, and expressing gratitude makes me feel happy, too. The recipient is directed to a website, where they collect a wonderful gift that warms the heart. Check them out at www.UnleashGratitude.com.